Identification key tag



IDENTIFICATION KEY TAG Filed March 16, 1928 R mizlui gr z eue 0!; BY

ATTORNEYS Patented Mar. 4, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REUEL H. THAYER, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR T THAYER TELKEE CORPORATION,

OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, A CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA I IDENTIFICATION KEY TAG Application filed March 16, 1928. Serial No. 262,219.

This invention relates to identification tags for keys or the like adapted to be permanently secured to a key and more particularly relates to an improvement in the identification tag and the means to secure the key thereto and is an improvement on my copending application, vSerial No. 39,922, filed June 27, 1925, which is now matured into Patent No. 1,668,833, entitled Key ring and identification tag granted May 8, 1928.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an identification tag which may be permanently lockedto a key so thatvthe key may be easily and quickly distinguished from other keys or similar objects by the characteristic insignia on the tag. #Another object of the invention is to provide an identification tag which may be easily and simply constructed at low cost and may be attached'to the key or other object without the use-of tools or extra equipment.

Another object of the invention is to provide an identification tag which may be readily and permanently attached to a key or other object for use in connection with key boards or other filing devices to facilitate filing and to more readily detect loss.-

A still further object of this invention is to provide a more simple identificationtag having feweroperating parts rendering it more convenientto manufacture, cheaper to construct andmore satisfactory to use.

Further objects and advantages of this invention will appear from the following description thereof together with the attached drawings illustrating a preferred form of embodiment andin which:

' Figure 1 is a front elevation of the improvedidentificationtagwith the loop open;

Figure 2 is a side view partially in section showing the construction of Figure 1;

I v Figure 3 is a side'view of the tag with the loop in locked position withparts broken away to show the construction thereof; and,

Figure 4 is a perspective view ofa portion of the metallic loop showing the details of construction.

The improved identification tag or marker comprises a tag 10 which may be of any desired shape although it has been shown in the preferred form as being oblong and is provided with an aperture 12 permitting the tag to be suspended from a hook or other device. Cooperatingvwith and attached to the identification tag 10 is strip 14 preferably of metal which is adapted to be placed through a hole 16 in a key 18 and to be folded on itself as shown in Figure 3 to secure the key to the tag.

For the purpose of permanently retaining the strip 14 to the tag 10, one end of the metallic strip 14 is provided with outstanding ears 20, flanges 22 and a tongue 24. The tag 10 is provided with narrow, short slits 26 at the end, which are of a width and thickness suflicient to receive the outstanding ears 20 on the strip 14. These ears are projected through the tag 10 and the surplus 20 is bent over to permanently secure the strip 14 to the tag. The flanges 22 space the metallic strip from the tag 10 for a purpose to be hereinafter shown.

The opposite end of the metallic strip 14 is provided with a square end 28 and a substantially square hole 80 therein and when the strip has been projected into the key or other device to which it is to be permanently attached, the free end of the strip will be passed between the tag or marker 10 and the strip, fitting in the space provided by the flanges 22, past the tongue 24. The aperture 30 then passes beyond the tongue 24 and the tongue will resiliently spring into the aperture 30, preventing the end 28 of the strip 14 from being withdrawn. From an inspection of Figure 8, the tongue 24 projecting into the aperture 30 of the end 28 is shown so locked into position that it will be impossible to withdraw the end of the strip and the key is thereby fastened permanently to the tag.

The tag may bemade of any convenient material'such as fiber, brass, cardboard, celluloid or other material and is particularly adapted to be marked for identification. If a metal tag is used it may be suitably marked by stamping or by other means which will form a character or a series of characters or other identification on the surface thereof. Materials such as fiber, dull celluloid or cardboard may be readily marked for identification with either ink or indelible pencil, or may be colored in a distinguishing manner.

The metallic strip 14 may bepreferably made of brass or any other material which is substantially flexible and by forcing the free end into the opening left by the flange 22 and secured by the tongue 24, the strip cannot.

come loose, thereby insuring that a tag once put on will remain attached to the key on which it was originally placed.

The construction of the tag is exceedingly cheap, requiring the minimum of forming operations and but a single operation 1n assembly. The metallic strip 14 may be formed in a die in but two operations, one of which will stamp out the shape and the other which will fold up the ears. This permits the single operation in assembly in which the ears 20 are projected through the slots 26 and the surplus folded over. I

The tags can be made in large quantities i and it is only necessary to form a hole 12, two

slots 26 and if desired the opening 32. The hole 32 is adjacent the end of the tongue 24' and in case of mistake in attaching a tag to a key, it is possible to project a knife point or a small nail into the hole and force the tongue through the aperture 30 and thereby release the end 28 of the strip.

. The lugs or ears 20 are really extensions of the flanges 22 at the sides, and the ends of these two flanges below the ears form shoulders. which engage the edges of the tag 10, and stop the lugs 20, after they have passed through the slots26 a certain distance. The end of the strip 14:, with the flanges 22 form with the tag a pocket for receiving the opposite end of the strip which has the aperture 30.

It will beobvious that simplicity in construction as well as extreme cheapness is combined with ,dependabilityand the permanent nature of the attachment. When once attached, the key will become a permanent part of the tag and the tag may be conveniently placed on any form of key rack or key filing cabinet or other device and such identified key will be readily noticed. The identification is positive, quick and unmistakable. It will be noted that no tools are required to attach the key or other device to the marker tag and it will alsobe seen that there are no parts to become separated and loose.

The identification or marker'tag is permanently secured to the metallic strip loop and, in the locked positionboth ends of the loop strip attached to said tag, said strip having means forming a pocket with the tag adjacent the point of attachment thereto, a tongue on the strip projecting into said pocket, and means on the end of said strip remote from the point of attachment projecting into said pocket and cooperating with said tongue to permanently secure both ends of the strip together adjacent the tag.

2. A metallic strip for attaching a key or similar device to an identification tag comprising a strip having at one end upstanding ears and upstanding flanges, and an upstanding tongue, said ears being adapted to be passed through the tag and bent to attach said strip to the, tag, the strip with its flanges then forming a pocket with the tag, the other end of said strip being shaped to fit into said pocket and receive said tongue to prevent withdrawal of the said s end from the said pocket.

3. A marker for attachment to a key 'or similar device comprising a tag, said tag presenting a readily marked surface, and a key unattached end of the attaching element 00- operating with said pocket and tongue to permanently secure said latterendadjac'ent the tag i v v 4. A metallic strip for connection with an identification tag, said strip having an overturned flange atone end with similar flanges at opposite sides adjacent the first flange, the flanges at the sides having projecting'ears to be passed through slots insaid tag to secure the strip to the tag,- the end of'the strip with the flanges forming with the tag, a pocket adjacent to the point of attachment, anda tongue carried by the end of the strip in said pocket, the opposite end of the strip having an aperture so that when it is inserted into said pocket, it will be engaged with the tongue and retained in the pocket.

5. The combination with an identification tag of a metallic strip, said strip having an overturned flange on the end with similar flanges at its opposite sidesadjacent the first flange, the flanges at the sides having earsto be passed through slits in the tag to attach the strip thereto the strip with the flanges forming with the tag a pocket at the point of attachment, and a tongue carried by the strip projecting into the pocket, the opposite end of the strip being apertured so that when inserted into the pocket it will be engaged and retained by the tongue, the tag having an aperture adjacent to the tongue to enable'the tongue to be moved to release the apertured end of the strip.

In testimony whereof I have afiixed my signature to this specification.

REUEL H. THAYER. 

